The last five first-time Champions League and European Cup winners | OneFootball

There could be a new name on the Uefa Champions League trophy this evening as Paris Saint-Germain face Inter Milan in the final at the Allianz Arena.

Luis Enrique and his players have the chance to create history by lifting the coveted trophy for the first time in the club’s 55-year existence.

Let’s delve into the archives and relive the last five times a club has won the competition for the first time. These are the teams PSG will be looking to emulate tonight.

The last five first-time Champions League winners

Manchester City – 2022/23

PSG will be hoping to follow in Manchester City’s footsteps by beating Inter to win their first Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side overcame Simone Inzaghi’s men two years ago courtesy of Rodri’s second-half winner.

On the road to the final, the blue half of Manchester thrashed both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid over two legs.

After investing heavily for an extended period of time, the Cityzens finally got their hands on the final piece of their collection.

The European Cup win coincided with the Premier League title and FA Cup victory – completing The Treble. A fitting set of accolades following a ruthless campaign.

Guardiola – Champions League qualification ‘like a title’ for Man City

Chelsea – 2011/12

The Allianz Arena is no stranger to hosting a maiden European triumph. Back in 2012, Chelsea defied the odds to beat serial winners Bayern Munich in their own back garden.

The Blues journey in the competition was already unlikely, as interim manager Roberto Di Matteo guided them to the final.

Until the 83rd minute, the contest was goalless as Chelsea frustrated the German champions. The game then sprung into life. Thomas Muller broke the deadlock before Didier Drogba equalised five minutes later with a bullet header from a corner.

A penalty shootout would be necessary and the West Londoners held their nerve to prevail. Petr Cech saved Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger’s spot-kicks and in customary fashion, Drogba coolly slotted away the decisive penalty.

Chelsea’s iconic Champions League triumph provided us with several pieces of timeless commentary. Gary Neville’s auditory disbelief from Fernando Torres’ last-minute winner over Barcelona in the semi-final and Clive Tyldesley’s cry of ‘Drogbaaaaa’ in the final are still etched into the collective memory over a decade later.

It was a crucial victory for several reasons. Not only had Chelsea claimed the continent’s most sought-after prize, but it also earned the Blues qualification into the Champions League for the following season after finishing sixth in the Premier League.

That was made even sweeter for Chelsea fans as the team they replaced in the illustrious competition was rivals Tottenham Hotspur – who had finished fourth in the table. Bonkers.

Read – Remembering the first all-English Champions League final

Borussia Dortmund – 1996/97

Coincidentally, this final was also held in Munich, but at a different venue.

Borussia Dortmund earned the privilege of lifting the trophy affectionately referred to as ‘Big Ears’ by overcoming defending champions Juventus at the Olympiastadion.

A quick-fire brace from Karl-Heinz Riedle put Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side in control heading into the second period.

Alessandro Del Piero halved the deficit before Lars Ricken restored Dortmund’s two-goal advantage with an audacious lob over Angelo Peruzzi, moments after coming off the bench. A goal worthy of winning any match, let alone a European final.

Since then, it has been almost three decades of heartbreak for BVB. The Yellow and Black came mightily close to doubling their European honours last year. They lost to perennial winners Real Madrid in the final at Wembley, the same venue where rivals Bayern beat them in the 2013 final. Ouch.

Read – PSG vs Inter Milan: Uefa Champions League final preview

Marseille – 1992/93

Ok, this is getting weird now… Marseille’s maiden European success occurred in – yes, you guessed it – Munich.

Raymond Goethals and his players edged out Italian giants AC Milan with defender Basile Boli heading in the decisive goal.

With the captain’s armband firmly around his bicep, current France boss Didier Deschamps lifted the treasured piece of silverware at the Olympiastadion, just like Matthias Sammer a few years later.

However, the story doesn’t end there.

In the immediate aftermath, several high-profile players accused Marseille of doping. Marcel Desailly and Chris Waddle were amongst several individuals to claim all the players took a series of injections, with club president Bernard Tapie being the primary distributor. The French businessman later admitted that some players only took Captagon, an illicit substance, while denying any serious wrongdoing.

Alas, Marseille remains the only French team to have lifted Europe’s top prize. Could PSG join them tonight in Munich?

Read – The players with the most Champions League titles

Barcelona – 1991/92

Barcelona ended decades of hurt when Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ won the final iteration of the European Cup.

It was the first time the competition featured a group stage and the last one before it was rebranded as the Champions League.

The Blaugrana finished top of their group to go straight to the final where they faced Sampdoria, an iconic side featuring the likes of Roberto Mancini and the late Gianluca Vialli.

Six years on from their painful penalty shootout final defeat to Steaua Bucharest, Barça appeared to be heading to another round of spot kicks after playing out a goalless draw after 90 minutes.

But in extra time Ronald Koeman fired the ball low and hard into the bottom corner from a free-kick, sealing the first of five victories in the competition.

Bonus Ball: Red Star Belgrade – 1990/91

Red Star Belgrade, then of Yugoslavia, announced themselves on the continental stage by beating Marseille in Italy. There was a lot at stake in Bari, with both teams having the opportunity to win the European Cup for the first time.

Ljupko Petrovic’s Red Star played out a goalless draw with Raymond Goethals’ Les Phoceens over 120 minutes of tense proceedings. A penalty shootout was required to determine the victors.

Full-back Manuel Amoros stepped up first for the French outfit, but his kick from 12 yards was heroically saved by captain Stevan Stojanovic. Everyone else dispatched theirs with ease and Darko Pancev blasted in the winner.

It was the third scoreless European Cup final in just five years. Previously, PSV and Benfica drew in 1988 and Steaua Bucharest and Barcelona played out a stalemate in 1986.

Read – How Enrique and Inzaghi built Europe’s best teams

See Also – The English clubs who have won the most European trophies

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